GB2310175A - Bicycle carrier for transporting a bicycle. - Google Patents

Description

BICYCLE CARRIER The present invention is concerned with a bicycle carrier and more particularly is concerned with a bicycle carrier for receiving part of a child's cycle.

Bicycle trailers are known in which the front wheel of a child's cycle is removed and the remainder of the cycle is then linked to an adult's cycle. Such trailers are expensive and require considerable effort on the part of the owner to link the child's cycle to the adult's cycle and subsequently to re-adapt the child's cycle for independent use. It is therefore desirable to provide a form of bicycle trailer in which a child's cycle can readily be linked to an adult's cycle and can subsequently readily be disconnected without the need to modify the child's cycle.

According to the present invention there is provided a bicycle carrier comprising support means for securing to a bicycle and carrying means for receiving part of a child's cycle.

The carrying means may be secured to the support means by a plurality of upright members. The length of the upright members may be adjustable.

The carrying means is preferably adapted for receiving the front wheel of a child's cycle. For this purpose, the carrying means may define an elongate aperture having a length less than the diameter of the front wheel of the child's cycle. The length of the elongate aperture may be adjustable.

The carrier may include means for clamping part of the child's cycle thereto. The clamping means may comprise webbing. The clamping means may be adapted to secure the front forks of the child's cycle to the carrier.

The carrier may include cushion means adapted to be positioned between an upper part of the front wheel of the child's cycle and the remainder of the carrier.

Two carrying means may be provided, one being positioned on each side of the support means.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of a bicycle carrier according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the bicycle carrier shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the bicycle carrier shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of means for securing the bicycle carrier to the upper region of the rear forks of an adult's bicycle; and Figure 5 is a plan view of means for securing the bicycle carrier to the lower region of each of the rear forks of an adult's bicycle.

The bicycle carrier shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a tubular framework for securing to an adult's cycle. The tubular framework comprises a first generally U-shaped member 1 with arms 3 adapted to extend in use in the longitudinal direction of an adult's bicycle with the free ends of the arms 3 arranged at a lower level than the other ends thereof. The arms 3 are provided at the free ends thereof with generally square mounting plates 5. The mounting plates 5 are each formed with an upwardly inclined slot 7 originating from the lower corner of each mounting plate remote from the free end of the respective arm 3.

The slots 7 each engage with securing means such as that shown in Figure 5 as will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

Extending upwardly from the mounting plates 5 is a second generally U-shaped member 9 with the free ends of arms 11 secured to the mounting plates 5. Secured to the base of the second U-shaped member (that is, that part interconnecting those ends of the arms 11 remote from the free ends thereof) is a third generally U-shaped member 13 which is arranged generally horizontally and is adapted in use to extend laterally of the longitudinal direction of the adult's bicycle. The third U-shaped member 13 is secured to the second U-shaped member along part of the length of one of the arms thereof. The other arm 15 of the third U-shaped member is adapted to be received by securing means such as that shown in Figure 4 in a manner that will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

The base of the second U-shaped member 9 is secured to the base of the first U-shaped member 1 by means of a pair of tubular members 17 which are bent at a point along the length thereof so as to provide a first tubular portion 19 which in use extends generally horizontally and a second tubular portion 21 which extends from the end of the first tubular portion to the base of the first U-shaped member 1.

Retaining means 23 for webbing or the like is provided on one of the tubular members 17 and similar retaining means 24 is provided on the second U-shaped member 9 for purposes that will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

Thus, the first and second U-shaped members 1 and 9 together with the tubular members 17 form a substantially rigid support means or frame for mounting on an adult's bicycle by way of the slots 7 in the mounting plates 5 and by way of the arm 15 of the third U-shaped member 13.

Depending in spaced-apart manner from one of the arms 3 of the first U-shaped member are two upright tubular posts 25.

The rear post 25 can readily be seen in Figures 1 and 2, but the front post can only be identified from the dotted lines in Figure 3. Nevertheless, the position and arrangement of both posts 25 is clear from the drawings.

The rear post is somewhat longer than the front post such that in use the bottom end of each post lies in the same substantially horizontal plane. Secured to the lower end of each post 25 is one side of carrying means in the form of a wheel receiving member 27 for receiving a front wheel of a child's cycle. The wheel receiving member 27 comprises two parallel members adapted to extend generally in the longitudinal direction of the adult's cycle and spaced apart by a generally semicircular member interconnecting each pair of free ends of the parallel members. Thus the receiving member 27 defines in effect an elongate oval aperture in which the elongate sides of the oval are generally parallel.

For stability, a further upright post 29 is secured to the opposite side of the wheel receiving member 27, the upper end of post 29 being formed with a U-shaped portion extending laterally of the longitudinal direction of the adult's cycle, the base 31 of the U-shape being secured to the underside of the tubular members 17 and the free end of the other leg 33 being secured to that leg 3 of the first U-shaped member remote from the wheel receiving member 27.

As will be clear from the above description, the precise manner in which the rigid frame is constructed is not important to the present invention. The critical factor is that the rigid frame should provide support for the wheel receiving member 27.

In use of the bicycle carrier shown in Figures 1 to 3, the carrier is first secured to an adult's cycle by attaching to the upper region of the rear forks of the adult's bicycle a securing means 35 as shown in Figure 4 and by attaching in the lower region of each of the rear forks a securing means 36 as shown in Figure 5.

The securing means 35 comprises a tubular portion 37 secured to an oval plate 39 provided with a threaded stud 41 extending outwardly therefrom. The tubular portion is positioned on that side of the upper region of the rear forks of the bicycle which is to be adjacent to the carrier and a further plate 43, for example with reinforcing flanges 45, is positioned on the opposite side of the rear forks with the stud extending through an aperture provided in the further plate. A wing nut 47 or the like is then threaded on to the stud 41 and tightened to firmly attach the securing means to the upper region of the rear forks.

The securing means 36 comprises two generally oval plates 49, 51, the plate 51 being provided with a threaded stud 53. Each plate 49, 51 is formed with an indented region having a flange arranged on each side thereof, with an aperture being formed in each flange such that a threaded bolt and nut arrangement 55 can be used to attach the securing means to each fork in a desired location.

Initially, some simple experimentation may be necessary in order to locate the securing means 35 and 36 in the required positions.

The carrier is then mounted on the securing means by tilting the carrier at a suitable angle in order for the lower part to be substantially above the rear wheel of the adult's cycle and the arm 15 is inserted into the tubular portion 37 of the securing means 35. The carrier is then pivoted downwardly until the studs are received in each of the slots 7 and a wing nut 57 or the like is tightened to attach the carrier to the cycle.

Clearly, adjustment of the securing means 35 and 36 need only be carried out once for each cycle and the carrier can then either be left in position on the cycle or can readily be removed or mounted as required.

A child's cycle can be mounted in the carrier when desired by lowering the front wheel of the child's cycle into the wheel receiving member 27 to a position corresponding to the wheel shown diagrammatically in Figures 1 and 2 with the wheel being, for example, some 50 mm or so above the ground. The length of the wheel receiving member is determined in order to prevent the wheel passing therethrough. The front wheel cf the child's cycle can then bear against the upright posts 25 and the child's cycle is secured in position by webbing which is provided with a buckle or like securing means and which passes through the retaining means 23 and 24 and around the front forks or the like to bias the front wheel tightly against the upright posts 25. Clearly, some form of clamp could be substituted for the webbing.

As shown in dashed lines in Figures 1 to 3, cushion means 59, for example in the form of a "T", is provided in the upper region of the rear upright post 25 in order to prevent or minimise chafing between the wheel and the post.

When the child's cycle is secured to the carrier the two cycles behave in the manner of a cycle and trailer with there being no need for steering on the child's cycle.

The bicycle carrier according to the present invention has the advantage over existing bicycle trailers in that it is possible for the child's bicycle to be readily mounted on and demounted from the carrier. Thus the child can choose to ride on its own when it wishes or it can be towed, for example when the child becomes tired.

It will be clear that the bicycle carrier described herein can be modified in a number of ways. For example, although different carriers can be manufactured for children's cycles having different wheel sizes, it is possible to make the wheel receiving member variable in length, for example at one or each end thereof. This can be effected in a number of ways such as one or both end members of the wheel receiving member being slidable within the side members with pin means being provided to secure the end members to the side members in a number of alternative positions.

Associated with the ability to vary the length of the wheel receiving member, or separate therefrom, it may be desirable to be able to vary the lengths of the upright posts 25 and 27 in order to be able to position the front wheel of the child's cycle at a desired height and/or to be able more readily to adapt the carrier to different adult cycles. Variation in the lengths of the upright posts can be effected in a similar manner to variation in the length of the wheel receiving member with the upright posts being formed in two parts with one part being slidable within the other and pin or like means being provided to secure the two parts in a number of alternative positions.

The third U-shaped member could be connected to the second U-shaped member in a manner which permits location of the third U-shaped member relative to the second U-shaped member in a number of different pivotal positions about that arm of the third U-shaped member adjacent to the second U-shaped member. For example, pin means or other locking means can be used to secure the third U-shaped member in any one of a number of different positions. This has the advantage that the position of the carrier can be adjusted to avoid brake calipers or the like.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, there is a wheel receiving member provided only on one side of the carrier, ideally on that side nearest the edge of the roadway. In order to adapt the carrier for use in different countries it is possible to provide a wheel receiving member on each side of the carrier. The provision of two wheel receiving members does not in practice make it possible to carry more than a single child's cycle because the space between the two wheel receiving members is insufficient, but it does make it possible to position a child's cycle on either side of the carrier. That side of the carrier not used for receiving a child's cycle could readily be provided with a pannier.

In order to reduce the likelihood of theft of the carrier, the carrier may be provided with locking means for locking the carrier to the adult's cycle, for example in one or more of the regions in which the carrier is mounted on the cycle.

Minor modifications include the provision of a plastics cover or a mudguard, the provision of a rear light and/or reflector, and the provision of a rack on the top of the carrier. A plastics cover has the benefit of reducing the likelihood of a child putting a hand into the carrier.

Claims (12)

1. A bicycle carrier comprising support means for securing to a bicycle and carrying means for receiving part of a child's cycle.

2. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrying means is secured to the support means by a plurality of upright members.

3. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the length of the upright members is adjustable.

4. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the carrying means is adapted for receiving the front wheel of a child's cycle.

5. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 4, wherein the carrying means defines an elongate aperture having a length less than the diameter of the front wheel of the child's cycle.

6. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 5, wherein the length of the elongate aperture is adjustable.

7. A bicycle carrier as claimed in any preceding claim and including means for clamping part of the child's cycle thereto.

8. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 7, wherein the clamping means comprises webbing.

9. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the clamping means is adapted to secure the front forks of the child's cycle to the carrier.

10. A bicycle carrier as claimed in any preceding claim and including cushion means adapted to be positioned between an upper part of the front wheel of the child's cycle and the remainder of the carrier.

11. A bicycle carrier as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein two carrying means are provided, one carrying means being positioned on each side of the support means.

12. A bicycle carrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.